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Texans convene to support legalization of marijuana
By Teresa Mioli
The Texas branch of NORML, the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, and Outgrow Big Bro, a cannabis-user advocacy organization, hosted Sunday's Texas Cannabis Crusade. Josh Schimberg, director of Texas NORML, said the Texas Cannabis Crusade was part of the 2008 Global Marijuana March. More than 200 cities worldwide registered for rallies at the Global Marijuana March Web site. "We're trying to get everybody that agrees with us to come together at the Capitol and show people that we want the laws changed," Schimberg said. "And we will get together and congregate to show the politicians, show the public that there's a group of people out here in the public that are being persecuted and we want it to stop." Event attendee Julian Ward said he gave written testimony last year for medical marijuana use, but the bill did not pass. "I'm on a lot of drugs that are dangerous drugs, legally, and was told that if I could be on marijuana, that I wouldn't need to take these drugs," Ward said. Starting Sept. 1, 2007, Texas police officers could legally issue citations instead of arresting people in possession of four ounces or less of marijuana. The officer can only issue a citation if the individual is a resident of the county where the offense occurred, according to the policy. Reps. Barney Frank, D-Mass., and Ron Paul, R-Texas, on April 17 introduced a bill to the U.S. House of Representatives that would eliminate most federal penalties for possession of marijuana for personal use. The bill is in committee and defines personal use as 100 grams or less or the not-for-profit transfer of one ounce or less of marijuana between adults. According to the bill, a civil penalty for public use of marijuana may still be imposed. The same day, April 17, Frank, Paul and three other legislators introduced the Medical Marijuana Patient Protection Act, which is also still in committee. The bill would prohibit federal law from interfering in states with laws protecting the possession, transportation and manufacture of medical marijuana to prescribed patients. Sarah Newton, a philosophy and English student at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, spoke at the rally as Miss High Times 2007. She said legalization of marijuana is a pressing issue in the U.S. and strongly believes that it is a right for which people need to fight. "We have people that need it, not just to get high but for medication. Some people need it to survive," Newton said. "Not to mention, in college, we all know we're stressed out, and it definitely helps out." The Texan strives to present all information fairly, accurately and completely.
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Viewing Comments 1 - 5 of 7
Adam
posted 5/05/08 @ 2:26 PM CST
I say let the people have what they want. it will just become another big product in america look at alcohol. And marijuana does not effect your decision making or motor skill nearly as severely as alcohol yet alcohol is illegal. (Continued…)
Howard Beale
posted 5/05/08 @ 7:09 PM CST
The media always has to slant the story by interviewing a ditzy college girl who needs it for her "stress in college". Why not interview some guy in a suit or a soccer mom who smokes, or a real MJ patient like myself. (Continued…)
floyd
posted 5/05/08 @ 10:57 PM CST
well i say let the ppl that need it have it i agree with the whole article and marijuana has wayyyy less "sideeffects than alcohol and your pharmcy type drugs", i take hydros and val and cholest medsand a bllodpressure med, but maryjane she has a differant effect than like relaxing you better than alcohol, and if ppl dont know theirs 3 to 4 differant strainds of marijuana reason i say this is you look at the woman out in california "angle" she has spinal problems like me i have "spinabifida" and marijuan helps when man made pills leave you groggy and weed you can "monitor you intake", but pills you cant stop the feeling of being to groggy unless you eat a bunch of food, and weed depending on the straned you can get the right comfort level but i think it should be legal for medical uses, the only reason why our goverment wont legalize it is because then they wouldnt get as much money out of it sinse they get a whole lotttt more just for it being illegal think about it ppl this goverment
Marcia
posted 5/06/08 @ 1:18 PM CST
Every year, almost 7,000 people die just from Aspirin over-dose and/or over-use.
There has NEVER been one death attributable to a marijuana overdose because you cannot overdose on it. (Continued…)
matthew Hunter
posted 5/07/08 @ 9:43 AM CST
We waste 19.1 billion dollars a year on the drug war. 800,000 people are arrested a year for marijuana. While it costs 30,000 dollars to house a person in our prisons a year. (Continued…)
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